A common feeling of the 21st century can be summed up in one word: stress. As technologies get more advanced, the things you have to worry about seemingly increase. How could that be? That the preconception many of us hold, machines supposedly making our lives easier, does not appear to hold up?
Looking at American day-to-day stress, one study from the American Psychologist found that stress and decreased well-being was far worse in the 2010s when compared to the 1990s, with findings that stressors in the 2010s increased in severity, with factors such as a raised fear of risks to future plans, finances than individuals in the 1990s.
The world has changed a lot, and the reasons for stress have increased. The rise of social media has had an arguably big contribution, not only due to overstimulation but also because these addictive apps can often disrupt healthy behaviors. As more apps are competing for our attention, we are spending less and less time focusing on introspection, health and fitness, and prioritizing what really matters in life.
There are many tools however to combat the addictiveness of social media, and below, we will share some of these innovative tools, as well as features, which will help you become more mindful.
How to Optimize Your iPhone for Mindfulness
Screen Time on iPhone allows you to track how much time you are spending on each app. After looking at where you may need to cut down on hours, you can set limits for app use, like only giving yourself 1 hour on Instagram a day.
You can go further than setting limits by scheduling time away from your screen using Apple’s handy Downtime feature. This feature allows you to block apps and notifications at times when you want to take a break from devices, you can schedule downtime for certain periods and customize which days you would like more downtime. It is a fantastic tool to really unplug from technology.
Don’t worry about missing an important call either, the downtime feature allows you to specify which apps or numbers you can always communicate with, making sure you don’t miss an important work or family call!
However, you don’t always need to cut out using technology, and in some ways it can be a really beneficial tool for your wellbeing. One way that technology is most handy is through learning, and with access to the world through your fingertips there has never been a better time to learn new topics, even if some topics are more challenging than others.
Computing for example may seem like a daunting topic to learn, yet when getting into it, it is not as difficult as it seems. There are many programs available for beginners learning to code, working from very small steps up to building your very own computer game! Like any new hobby, it will require time and effort to learn but if you have a passion for problem solving then it could be the right fit for you.
Having a hobby you love is a great way to calm down, and having certain skills allows you to do far more reading on topics than you normally would, although there are many easy reads to really extend your learning. Reading about quantum computing and cryptocurrency can really broaden your horizons about the challenges we face living in such a digitalized world. And if you find the intersection of these topics, computing and digital assets, difficult, there are many iPhone apps, such as Blinkist and Shortform, which can turn something as complex as quantum computing into bite-sized reading material.
Optimizing Screens
Moreover, one of the simplest ways to calm down however is through your home-screen, the home-screen is something you will always look at throughout your day, and by selecting one of the calmest wallpapers possible, it can have a relaxing effect, releasing stressors and decreasing anxiety. There are hundreds of exciting wallpapers for you to select online. Now let's take a look at how to select the most calming home-screen.
Color Psychology
You can find the calmest wallpapers by using science-backed methods. It is called color psychology, and is a subset of cognitive psychology focusing on how color impacts moods, behaviors and feelings.
According to color psychology, blue is the best color. It represents calmness, tranquility and peace. Next in line comes purple, also giving the feeling of calmness but additionally a more relaxed, imaginative color. White is the final color to go into your calmness palette, representing not only relaxation but also comfort and feelings of hope.
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